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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

GPS/fishfinder combos?

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Captnkev25
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/05/2011 : 12:07:44

Ok so I've decide to pass on the antiquated Raydata and was looking at this: http://store.humminbird.com/products...587ci_HD_Combo
The price is within my budget and seems to do a multitude of useful things. My plan is to remove my two Signet Marine non working instruments and use a piece of 1/4 star board to cover the holes outside and inside of my bulkhead. Making a starboard sandwich if you will. Then center whatever single instrument I do get. This unit has the capability of through transom mounting. Has anyone had any experience with either Hummingbird or this particular unit?

Kevin (1984 C25 Standard Rig, Swing Keel, Traditional Interior)

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 14:15:51

Not with that model, but I have had 2 pre-GPS Hummingbirds that I used as shoot through the hull and both of them were easy, adequately powerful, and reliable.

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Justincase
1st Mate

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Canada
49 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 19:47:55

You'll love it! I do, I have this exact unit. I chose it for all the same reasons. However I could not get it to shoot through the hull under the v-berth. So I mounted it to the transom. I attached a 12v plug-in adapter to the power wires to make it easy to plug in. I did not mount the display last year on purpose to see where the best mounting location would be(it was the 1st year with the boat) I think i might make a short companionway board an mount it to that. Or perhaps something removable that would allow me to mount it on the sliding hatch.

Make sure you download the hummingbird software to be able to take the SD card and upload your tracks. The best part is you can overlay them into google earth, so cool! I can upload some screen captures this weekend.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 08:31:14

I haven't lookled at this specific Humminibird model but the older unit I have serves my needs well. One thing my model lacks is a VMG (velocity made good) readout which is particularly useful for sailboats. You might want to verify they have added that ability before you purchase.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 08:45:42

Justin: Where did you mount the transducer on the transom, and does it not lift out of the water on one tack? I always assumed that wouldn't work very well on a sailboat--especially with a transom-hung rudder.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 09:10:34

I just bough a SH 180i chartplotter. Seems easy enough to navigate and there is a depthsounder add-on you can buy for it. $400 for the GPS plus $125 for the mapping plus a depth sounder.

I didn't buy the maps or depthsounder so I can't speak to them.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 09:26:02

I agree with Dave. Also, when you consider that a depth sounder tells you safe depth in front of the boat, a transom mounted transducer will not help avoid trouble.....unless of course youb use it to find fish only. If you really want that particular system than arrange somehow to mount it in the bow where it will do you come good.

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two port feet
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 09:43:42

The Garmin GPSmap 441s from WM works for me.

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Justincase
1st Mate

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Canada
49 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 10:09:45

I don't think I have any pics, but I'll check. I made a drop down bracket ~4-5" that I mounted as close to the rudder witout interfering, it was made from a 1" piece of aluminium. It still reads great on all points of sail. As well I was able to use the pivot bracket supplied to mount to the piece of aluminium, so i tilted it to shoot a few degrees forward so it reads the depth exactly where my SK is. I tested it out on a sandy bottomon a dead calm day and it worked perfectly. Like I said i would have rather mounted it in the bow, which i tried with the wax o-ring trick but could not get it to register, so i transom mounted it. Kev, I would recomend trying to get your's to shoot through the bow area first.

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Captnkev25
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 10:41:00

I plan to mount the transducer in the bow, even if I have to pull my old depth transducer out and purchase the compatible through hull for the unit. Has anyone mounted their reciever through the bulkhead?

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 11:00:09

Travelling at 1 knot you will move 6076.11549 feet in an hour.
Or 101.2685915 feet in a minute
Or 1.68 feet per second.

After spotting an obstruction, you would have about 7.1 seconds to evade it with the transducer right at the front of the boat, on high alert, and assuming you had the ability to turn the boat in half its own length (before the keel hit), or it was a boulder you were avoiding. At one knot you have decreased steerage, but if you did hit, It would not do much damage anyways.

At 5 knots you travel 8.439 feet in a second, and you would have about 1.4 seconds to dodge the obstruction, from the time the leadin gedge of the hull passed over until the keel hit if you were on high alert. At teh higher speed you have better control, but if you hit there will be more damage. Bear in mind that teh average person takes 0.7 seconds to process an input (read a screen, decipher a beep, realize they are in shallows) and then takes about 0.7 seconds to react (mind forms plan of action), and 0.7 seconds to mobilize (move tiller over). For a total "perception-reaction time" of about 1.5 - 2.1 seconds. In other words, at 5 knots you will likely hit bottom before you have processed the information from a bow mounted transducer..

At 5 or 6 knots, I doubt you would be able to get outta there in time, no matter how far forward the transducer is mounted.

Remember you aren't working with 25 feet of boat before you hit, it is more like 12 feet from the bow to the keel.

Mount the transducer anyplace, and stay away from water under 10 feet deep. I speak from experience.

Edited by - Prospector on 05/06/2011 11:03:06

Justincase
1st Mate

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Canada
49 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 11:52:28

Kev my folks have a side table mount that I think would be perfect for mounting of these units, here is the link http://tacomarine.com/ccp51/media/images/product_xlarge/Side%20Mount%20Sheet.pdf

The mount has a slot machined into the back that could accept a custom made piece. The pair (table leg and mount)are a bit pricy. Thats why I only have the mount and will build something to suit.

Justin

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 12:31:03

I had an older Humminbird combo unit which worked well BUT there were no settings to make the speed large enough, it is after all a fish finder. I ended up using my garmin 76c along with it to have the best depth display and speed display.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2011 : 05:01:17

Prospector,

As usual your math is impeccable although it is possible to mount a tranducer far enough forward to allow a 20 foot warning rather then 12. In my ipinion, 20 feet is better than no feet.

I also agree that anyone who motors or sails at speed in shallow water is courting disaster, unless you have a specific reason for doing so ......... such as gunkholing. In that case you need to have your depth transducer well forward to identify depth trends relative to your keel depth to avoid grounding.

There seems to be a great fear of installing a through-hull transducer in the bow of the boat. Don't know why. It is the most efficient way to mount one. I will admit to some trepidition 23 years ago when my C25 was fresh out of the showroom,kneeling under the bow with a drill a 2" hole saw. I've never had a drop of water enter the boat from that 2" hole in the bottom and don't ever expect to. That is unless, when gunkholing, I don't pay attention to depth readings, run aground, and rip the transducer off the boat. You can be sure that will never happen.

So, unless you balk at putting holes in your boat, which also mystifies me, especially when the installation is well thought out, do the job right and put your transducer where it will do the most good. That is unless you mostly use your boat for bass fishing, in which case a transom transducer fish finder might better suit your purpose.

Edited by - aeckhart on 05/09/2011 05:27:08

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